The gates of Thornhaven loomed before Astraeus, massive wooden constructs reinforced with iron bands and etched with protective runes that glowed faintly in the twilight. Two guards stood at attention on either side, wearing leather armor marked with the city's crest—a thornbush surrounding a rising sun. They watched him approach with the practiced wariness of men who'd seen every kind of trouble walk through those gates.
Astraeus forced himself to walk normally, to not look like someone with a Demon King bound to his shadow and a divine system guiding his path. Just another traveler, weary from the road, seeking shelter for the night.
"State your business," the left guard said as Astraeus reached the gate. His voice was bored but professional, the tone of someone who'd asked the same question a thousand times.
"I'm seeking lodging and supplies," Astraeus said. "I'm a student from Valdris Academy. There was an accident during an expedition. I'm the only survivor."
The guard's expression shifted from boredom to interest. "Valdris? That's two weeks' travel from here. You walked all that way alone?"
"I didn't have much choice."
The right guard stepped forward, studying Astraeus's torn robes, the dirt and blood stains, the exhaustion evident in his posture. "You look like you've been through hell, boy. What kind of accident?"
"Ruins collapsed," Astraeus said, sticking to the story he'd been refining. "We were surveying the old Valdris temple complex. There was a structural failure. I got separated from the group and had to find my way out alone."
It was close enough to the truth to be believable, vague enough to avoid detailed questions. The guards exchanged glances.
"You'll want to report to the Mage Guild," the left guard said. "They'll need to send word to your academy, arrange for your return or whatever. Guild hall is in the merchant district, big building with a blue tower. Can't miss it."
"Thank you," Astraeus said.
The guard waved him through, already losing interest. Astraeus passed under the gate, and the city swallowed him whole.
Thornhaven was overwhelming. The streets were paved with cobblestone, lined with buildings that rose three and four stories high. Lanterns hung from posts at regular intervals, their light pushing back the gathering darkness. People were everywhere—merchants closing up shops, workers heading home, children playing in the streets despite the late hour. The air smelled of cooking food, smoke, horses, and humanity packed together in close quarters.
This is dangerous, Kha'Zul said quietly.
"The city?"
Cities are always dangerous. Too many people, too many eyes, too many opportunities for someone to notice you're not normal. You need to be careful here.
Astraeus understood. In the wilderness, his only concerns had been survival and combat. Here, he needed to navigate social structures, maintain a cover story, and avoid drawing attention to the fact that he was bound to a demon and marked by a god system.
He followed the flow of foot traffic deeper into the city, looking for an inn. The buildings grew more prosperous as he walked—wooden structures giving way to stone, thatched roofs replaced by slate tiles. He was entering the merchant district, where money flowed and travelers were common.
A sign caught his eye: The Copper Bell Inn. The building was three stories of solid stone with warm light spilling from its windows. Through the glass, he could see a common room filled with people eating and drinking. It looked clean, safe, and expensive.
Astraeus checked his remaining coins. He had eight silver left from the bandits, plus whatever the "Basic Survival Kit" from his quest reward contained. He'd need to be careful with his money until he figured out how to earn more.
You're overthinking again, Kha'Zul observed.
"I'm planning."
You're worrying. There's a difference. Go inside, get a room, eat food. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.
Astraeus pushed open the door and stepped into warmth and noise. The common room was crowded with travelers and locals, conversations flowing around tables laden with food and drink. A large fireplace dominated one wall, its flames crackling cheerfully. The smell of roasted meat and fresh bread made his stomach growl audibly.
A woman behind the bar noticed him and waved him over. She was middle-aged, with sharp eyes and the efficient manner of someone who ran a successful business.
"Looking for a room?" she asked.
"Yes. One night, maybe more depending on how long it takes to sort out my situation."
"Three silver a night, includes breakfast. Two silver more if you want dinner now."
Five silver for a room and a meal. It was expensive, but Astraeus was too tired to haggle or search for something cheaper. "I'll take it."
He counted out the coins, and the woman swept them off the bar with practiced ease. "Room seven, second floor. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes. Find a table."
Astraeus climbed the stairs and found his room. It was small but clean—a bed, a washbasin, a small desk, and a window overlooking the street. Luxury compared to sleeping on the ground in the forest. He dropped his meager belongings on the desk and washed his face and hands, watching the water turn brown with accumulated dirt.
Looking at himself in the small mirror above the basin, he barely recognized his own reflection. His black hair was wild and unkempt, his face thinner than he remembered, his golden-yellow eyes harder. He looked older than seventeen. He looked like someone who'd survived things that should have killed him.
You look like someone who's earned the right to be here, Kha'Zul said. Stop doubting yourself.
Astraeus went back downstairs and found an empty table in the corner—a position that let him watch the room while keeping his back to the wall. Old instincts from academy training about situational awareness, now reinforced by Kha'Zul's constant tactical commentary.
The innkeeper brought him dinner: roasted chicken, fresh bread, vegetables in a rich gravy, and a mug of ale. Astraeus ate slowly, savoring every bite, listening to the conversations around him.
"—heard there's been trouble on the eastern road. Bandits getting bolder—"
"—Mage Guild is recruiting for some kind of expedition. Paying well, but it's dangerous—"
"—void rifts opening in the northern territories. The king is worried—"
Fragments of information, pieces of a larger world that Astraeus was only beginning to understand. He filed it all away, knowing that intelligence was as valuable as power in the long run.
The man three tables over keeps glancing at you, Kha'Zul said suddenly.
Astraeus didn't turn to look. Instead, he used the reflection in his ale mug to observe. A man in his thirties, well-dressed, with the bearing of someone educated and confident. He was watching Astraeus with open curiosity.
"Who is he?" Astraeus murmured.
How should I know? But he's interested in you. That's rarely good.
The man stood and walked over, carrying his drink. "Mind if I join you?"
Astraeus gestured to the empty chair. "It's a free country."
The man sat, studying Astraeus with intelligent gray eyes. "You're a mage. Academy-trained, if those robes are any indication. But you look like you've been through a war."
"Close enough," Astraeus said carefully.
"There was an accident. I'm the only survivor."
"Valdris Academy?"
"How did you know?"
"The crest on your collar, barely visible under all that dirt." The man extended his hand. "Marcus Thorne. I'm a senior instructor at the Thornhaven Mage Guild."
Astraeus shook his hand, his mind racing. A guild instructor. This could be either very good or very bad. "Astraeus Ren. Second-year student. Or I was, before everything went wrong."
Marcus's expression softened with sympathy. "I'm sorry for your loss. Magical accidents are always tragic. How many were in your expedition?"
"Twelve students, two instructors," Astraeus said, the lie coming easily now. "The ruins collapsed. I was near an exit when it happened. The others..." He let his voice trail off, injecting genuine emotion into it. Because even though the story was false, the emotion was real. People had died because of what happened in those ruins. Just not the people Marcus thought.
"You're lucky to be alive," Marcus said quietly. "And you walked all the way here alone?"
"I didn't have much choice. It was either walk or die in the wilderness."
"That takes courage. And skill." Marcus leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "The guild will need to send word to Valdris, arrange for your return or transfer. But that can wait until tomorrow. Tonight, you should rest."
"Thank you," Astraeus said, genuinely grateful. "The guards at the gate mentioned I should report to the guild."
"You should. Come by tomorrow morning. We'll sort everything out." Marcus paused, then added, "If you need work while you're here—to pay for lodging and supplies—the guild always has tasks available. Simple things, usually. Gathering materials, assisting with research, that sort of thing."
"I might take you up on that," Astraeus said. He needed money, and guild work would give him access to resources and information.
Marcus stood, finishing his drink. "I'll see you tomorrow, then. Room seven at the guild hall. Ask for me at the front desk."
He left, and Astraeus released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
That went well, Kha'Zul said. He believed you completely.
"Because most of it was true. The best lies are the ones wrapped around a core of truth."
You're learning. Good.
Astraeus finished his meal and returned to his room. The bed was soft, the blankets clean, and for the first time in days, he felt safe enough to truly relax. He pulled up his system interface, checking his status and the quest reward he'd received.
[INVENTORY]
•Basic Survival Kit (NEW)
Contents: Flint and steel, rope (50 feet), waterskin, dried rations (3 days), basic first aid supplies, small knife
Useful items, the kind that would have made his journey from the ruins much easier. But he'd survived without them, which meant he'd grown stronger in the process.
[QUEST PROGRESS: ESTABLISH YOURSELF IN THORNHAVEN]
•Find lodging: COMPLETE
•Acquire supplies: PENDING
•Register with Mage Guild: PENDING
Two out of three. He'd handle the rest tomorrow.
"Kha'Zul," he said quietly, staring at the ceiling. "What happens when the guild tries to contact Valdris Academy?"
They'll discover there was no expedition. No accident. No survivors because there were no victims.
"So my cover story falls apart."
Eventually. But by then, you'll either have moved on or established yourself enough that it doesn't matter. The key is to stay ahead of the questions.
"How long do you think I have?"
A week, maybe two. Long enough to rest, train, and prepare for whatever comes next. Use the time wisely.
Astraeus closed his eyes, exhaustion finally catching up with him. Tomorrow he'd visit the guild, maintain his cover, and start figuring out how to survive in civilization. But tonight, he would sleep in a real bed, safe behind walls, with a demon watching over him.
It was strange how quickly the impossible became normal. A week ago, he'd been a student worried about exams and social standing. Now he was a resurrected mage with a bound demon, lying to guild instructors and planning his next move in a game he barely understood.
But he was alive. And that was what mattered.
Sleep claimed him quickly, pulling him down into dreams of silver-blue essence and crimson shadows. In his dreams, he practiced magic, fought battles, and walked a path that stretched forward into infinity. Four thousand chapters of growth, struggle, and transformation.
He was only on chapter seven.
But he was learning.
Morning came with sunlight streaming through the window and the smell of breakfast drifting up from the common room. Astraeus woke feeling more rested than he had in days. His essence pool was full, his stamina recovered, and his mind clear.
[HEALTH: 130/130]
[ETHEREAL ESSENCE: 65/65]
[STAMINA: 100/100]
He washed, changed into the cleanest version of his torn robes he could manage, and went downstairs. The innkeeper had breakfast waiting—eggs, bacon, fresh bread, and strong tea. He ate quickly, aware that he needed to visit the guild before too much time passed.
The morning streets of Thornhaven were busy with commerce. Merchants called out their wares, carts rumbled over cobblestones, and the general hum of urban life filled the air. Astraeus followed the directions the guard had given him, navigating through the merchant district until he saw it: a large building of white stone with a blue tower rising from its center. The Mage Guild.
Runes covered the exterior walls, glowing softly with protective enchantments. The entrance was a set of double doors made of dark wood, carved with intricate patterns that seemed to shift when he wasn't looking directly at them.
Impressive, Kha'Zul admitted. They've invested serious resources into this building. The enchantments alone would take years to create.
Astraeus pushed open the doors and stepped inside.
The interior was even more impressive than the exterior. The entrance hall was vast, with a ceiling that rose three stories high. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with tomes and scrolls. Mages in various colored robes moved about, some carrying armfuls of books, others engaged in quiet conversation. In the center of the hall, a massive crystal floated in midair, slowly rotating, its surface covered in constantly shifting runes.
A young woman sat at a desk near the entrance, her red robes marking her as an apprentice. She looked up as Astraeus approached.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"I'm here to see Marcus Thorne. He told me to ask for him at the front desk."
"Your name?"
"Astraeus Ren."
She consulted a ledger, then nodded. "He's expecting you. Room seven, third floor. Take the stairs on the left."
Astraeus climbed the stairs, his boots echoing on polished stone. The third floor was quieter, with fewer people and more private offices. He found room seven and knocked.
"Come in," Marcus's voice called.
Astraeus entered to find Marcus sitting behind a desk covered in papers and books. The instructor looked up and smiled. "Astraeus. Good to see you. Please, sit."
Astraeus took the offered chair, his nerves tightening. This was where his story would either hold up or fall apart.
Marcus pulled out a fresh sheet of paper and a pen. "Let's start with the basics. Full name, age, academy, year of study."
"Astraeus Ren. Seventeen. Valdris Academy. Second year."
Marcus wrote it all down. "And the expedition—when did it depart, and what was its purpose?"
"Three weeks ago. We were surveying the old temple ruins outside the academy grounds. It was supposed to be a routine training exercise."
"Who led the expedition?"
Astraeus's mind raced. He needed names that sounded real but couldn't be easily verified. "Instructor Helena Voss and Instructor Thomas Crane."
Marcus wrote the names down without hesitation. "And the other students?"
"I... I don't want to talk about them," Astraeus said, letting pain color his voice. "They were my friends."
Marcus's expression softened. "I understand. I'm sorry. We'll get the full roster from Valdris when we send word." He set down his pen. "The guild will arrange for a message to be sent to your academy. In the meantime, you're welcome to stay in Thornhaven. If you need work, as I mentioned last night, we have tasks available."
"I'd appreciate that," Astraeus said. "I need to pay for lodging and supplies."
"Of course." Marcus pulled out another sheet of paper, this one covered in a list of tasks. "Most of these are simple. Gathering herbs from the forest, delivering messages, assisting senior mages with research. The pay isn't great, but it's steady."
Astraeus scanned the list, looking for something that would give him useful experience without drawing too much attention. One entry caught his eye:
Task: Investigate minor essence disturbance in the warehouse district. Likely just residual magic from stored artifacts, but needs verification. Pay: 10 silver.
"This one," Astraeus said, pointing.
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "That's usually assigned to third or fourth-year students. Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I've had a lot of practical experience recently," Astraeus said dryly.
Marcus studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Fair enough. You've survived things most students never face. Just be careful. If it's more than a minor disturbance, report back immediately. Don't try to handle it alone."
"Understood."
Marcus handed him a small bronze token marked with the guild's crest. "Show this to the warehouse supervisor. He'll let you in to investigate. Report back when you're done."
Astraeus took the token and stood. "Thank you, Instructor Thorne."
"Marcus is fine. And Astraeus? Welcome to Thornhaven. I hope your stay is more peaceful than your journey here."
Astraeus left the guild hall with the token in his pocket and a new quest in his system interface.
[NEW QUEST: INVESTIGATE ESSENCE DISTURBANCE]
[OBJECTIVE: Examine the warehouse district and identify the source of magical anomalies]
[REWARD: 10 silver, 50 experience]
An essence disturbance, Kha'Zul said thoughtfully. That could be anything from a leaking artifact to something far more dangerous.
"Only one way to find out," Astraeus said.
He headed toward the warehouse district, ready for whatever came next. The city was vast, full of opportunities and dangers he couldn't yet see. But he'd faced worse than unknown magical disturbances.
He'd died and come back.
Everything else was just another challenge to overcome.